Thomas S. Lyons

Exercise-induced lymphocyte apoptosis attributable to cycle ergometer exercise in endurance-trained individuals

Exercise as a stimulus to induce lymphocyte apoptosis remains controversial. Differences may be due to participant fitness level or the methodology of assessing cell death. Another important issue is the mode of exercise used to induce physiological changes. Treadmill exercise typically induces significant apoptosis in human lymphocytes; however, the effect of cycle exercise is less clear. The 2 main purposes of this study were to assess if cycle ergometer exercise induces similar changes in apoptosis, and to further characterize the morphological method of assessing cell death. Endurance athletes (n = 10; peak oxygen consumption = 55.1 mL.kg-1.min-1) completed a 60-min ride on a cycle ergometer at approximately 80% peak oxygen consumption. Blood samples taken before (PRE) and after (POST) exercise were used to make blood films for apoptotic analysis via the morphological technique. A significant increase was observed in the apoptotic index following cycle exercise (PRE = 7.3 +/- 2%, POST = 12.9 +/- 2%; p < 0.01). On average, it took 42 +/- 9 min to read PRE sample slides, which was significantly longer than the 27 +/- 4 min needed for POST slides (p < 0.01). To our knowledge, this study is the first to report that exercise on the cycle ergometer produces changes in lymphocyte apoptosis. The values measured during this study were about 20% lower than those we have observed following treadmill running, which may be explained by differences in active muscle mass and the resultant physiological stress between the 2 exercise modes. It is likely that cycling may result in reduced immunosuppression, compared with running at the same intensity.

Repeated high-intensity Wingate cycle bouts influence markers of lymphocyte migration but not apoptosis

Studies have shown significant changes in lymphocytes during continuous exercise, but little has been shown on the effect of repeated high intensity bouts. This study was designed to examine the effect of repeated intermittent bouts on lymphocyte subset cell count, apoptosis, and migration. A series of 6 Wingate anaerobic cycle tests were performed by participants (N = 8) with blood samples attained before, immediately following, and after a designated recovery period (excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)) to observe lymphocyte changes. Lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD4/CD45RA+, CD8+, CD8+/CD45RA+, CD19+) were assessed for apoptosis (annexin V+) and cellular migration (CX(3)CR1). Our results indicate that the CD8+ and CD8+/CD45RA+ subsets were significantly influenced by the repetitive Wingate cycling protocol such that cell counts increased with exercise, and then decreased at EPOC termination (p = 0.016). The observed postexercise decrease in CD8+ and CD8+/CD45RA+ cells was accompanied by a significant change in the CX(3)CR1 cell migration receptor (p = 0.019), but not apoptosis (p = 0.87). This indicates that with repetitive high-intensity cycling, the response in CD8+ cells following the bout is likely due to cell migration rather than cell death.

Specificity of training modalities on upper-body one repetition maximum performance: free weights vs. hammer strength equipment.

Lyons, TS, McLester, JR, Arnett, SW, and Thoma, MJ. Specificity of training modalities on upper-body one repetition maximum performance: free weights vs. hammer strength equipment. J Strength Cond Res 24(11): 2984-2988, 2010-The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between 1-repetition maximum (1RM) performed on hammer strength (HS) machines compared to free weights (FWs) and also to develop regression equations that can accurately predict 1RM when switching from exercise modality to another. Thirty-one trained male subjects performed 1-RM lifts (1RMs) on 3 HS externally loaded machines and 3 comparable FW exercises. Subjects performed 2 1RM tests during each laboratory session, with at least 48-72 hours of recovery between each. One repetition maximum data were used to (a) determine the relationship between 1RM performed on HS vs. FW and (b) to develop regression equations that can accurately predict 1RMs when switching from 1 exercise modality to another. Statistics revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between 1RMs performed on the HS equipment as compared to its corresponding (FW) exercise. For all exercises, 1RMs were significantly greater on the HS equipment. Regression equations were developed for all exercises, except when predicting the HS shoulder press and the HS preacher curls from their free weight counterparts, where no variables existed that could significantly predict their respective 1RMs. As 1 RMs were significantly greater when using the HS equipment compared to when using FWs, those transitioning from HS exercise to FW exercise should exercise caution.